Antiskid tread surface



Sept. 22, 1953 H. EISNER 2,652,876 ANTISKID TREAD SURFACE Filed June 3, 1950 Patented Sept. 22, 1953 ANTISKID TREAD SURFACE Harold Eisner, Au Marronier, Prangins, Switzerland Application June 3, 1950, Serial N 0. 165,901 5 Claims. (Cl. 152210) This invention relates structures, surface.

It is one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide means affording a considerable improvement in the gripping action and physical reinforcement of the tread surface of tires and like rubber bodies.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means facilitatin the accommodation of metallic elements, preferably of cemented hard metal alloy in and relatively to the tread surface of a tire, anti-skid strip, etc. to thereby combine in a tire or like surface the desirable qualities inherent in rubber and similar plastic compositions with the renowned qualities of hard metal (tungsten) alloys.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means ensuring the incorporation of elements of sintered metal carbide of different lengths and positions in the tread surface of a relatively soft rubber body to thereby bring about suitable contour and marked traction qualities for the tread surface.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide means increasing to an important degree the life of tires and like rubber bodies which, even when subjected to considerable wear and tear readily withstand great frictional and tractional forces.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide means rendering possible the construction of a tire and like body which, after extensive use and wear during spring and summer seasons becomes particularly suitable for employment on icy roads and those covered with sno These and other objects are attained according to the invention, a more particular description of which will hereinafter appear and the particular features thereof be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a tread surface formin part of a tire or anti-skid device tobe applied to the ordinary tread surface of a tire.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken along lines 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 and in engagement with a road.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1 a body I made from rubber or similar material having the grooves I I defining rubber blocks I2 therebetween. The grooved rubber tread surface may have any suitable shape and configuration and may be reinto tire, anti-skid and like having a yieldable and profiled tread 2 forced by canvas or similar layers I3, at the base of said grooves as seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

Within predetermined locations of said grooves I I of the tread surface there are arranged traction elements l5 made of a sintered hard metal carbide held in anchors I4 and normally below the upper surface or the level I6 of the tread surface.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, anchors III may have different lengths designated by numerals Ma, Hill. In some instances it may be advisable to change the length of elements I5 instead of usin different types and lengths of anchors I4.

As can be further seen from Fig. 2, element I5 in anchor I4 reaches to a level I! below level I6 of the tread surface, whereas element I5 in anchor Ma terminates at I8 further below the level I6 and finally element I5 in anchor Mb projects to a level I9 below the upper tread surface I6.

It is to be noted that the anchors I4, I la, Mb are all of the same type, comprising hollow rivets 20, 2|, 22 which are affixed in position by ring members 23, 24, 25 receiving the outwardly flaring ends 29a, 2Ia, 2211, respectively of the aforesaid hollow rivets. After the hollow rivets are thus anchored within the rubber body In the same is suitably reinforced as hereinabove mentioned with respect to layers I3.

Into the hollows of the rivets 20, 2|, 22 are then driven the tapered elements I5 made of sintered tungsten carbide alloy. Thus a structure of a tread surface is obtained which ordinarily works with its gripping or upper surface I6 in a conventional manner. However, when additional traction and non-skid qualities are necessitated to increase the traction and frictional engagement with the road surface the hard metal alloy elements I5 arranged at different levels with respect to the uppermost tread surface I6, which is relatively resilient with respect to the anchored hard metal alloy elements I5, come into action.

Fig. 3 shows the engagement of a portion of the body ID with the road bed 30, whereby the rubber projections I 2 as well as some of the hard metal alloy elements I5 dig into the road bed, whereas other elements I5 are still some distance apart from the latter. The rotation or movement of the tread surface of the body In relatively to the road bed 30 is indicated by arrow A.

When the tire or anti-skid tread surface I6 has been Worn down to a considerable degree it will be apparent that the gripping elements I5 come into action more and more and, since the same yield relatively to the rubber body ill in which they are anchored, a gradually increased traction force is exerted by the reinforced tread surface of the rubber or anti-skid body.

As can be further recognized from the drawings, the hard metal means or elements l5 may be distributed over the tread surface and relatively thereto at various levels within the grooves H or, if desired, on or recessed in any of the blocks 12.

In Figs. 1 and 2 are illustrated elements l5 progressively increasing in length toward the tread surface 16 from the median portion thereof so that the center elements [5 in anchor or fitting Hlb are the farthest away-from the tread surface Iii, whereas the neighboring elements l5 in fittings Ma are closer to the tread surface 16 and the elements 15 in the outer fittings l4 approach still more the level of the tread surface [6 than the remaining elements.

Although the elements l5 have been described to be made from sintered or cemented tungsten carbide alloy having a degree of hardness of approximately '78 Rockwell C (150 kg. load) corresponding to 88-99 Rockwell A (60 kg. load), it is to be understood that other known hard metal alloys in the form of shapes or particles can be employed for the purpose of this invention.

It is to be noted that the posed to normally form a right angle to the tread surface and are relatively less yieldable with respect to the tread surface than the block-shaped gripping members [2 of the latter so that upon traction exerted on bed said elements l5 come into action only after said gripping members l2 have dug into said road bed to a predetermined degree.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be easily understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the general scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

The combination, with a body having a rubber tread surface with grooves therein, of elements associated with said body and accommodated in said surface, said tread surface having a, median portion, said elements being anchored in said grooves, respectively, and progressively increasing in length toward said tread surface from said median portion, whereby ments are positioned at different levels with respect to said tread surface.

2. A tire, anti-skid and like device for applielements 15 are disthe tread surface by a road grooves and below said tread V at least some of said elecation to a road bed, comprising a body having a tread surface with a median portion, said tread surface being provided with grooves, a plurality of gripping members, and means having different lengths and fixed in said grooves of said body, said means progressively increasing in length from the median portion of said tread surface toward the ends thereof, said gripping members being substantially of equal length and retained in said means, respectively, whereby upon sufficient traction exerted on said tread surface said gripping members come progressively into action.

3. In a tire, anti-skid and like device having a tread surface, gripping members complementary to said tread surface, and means anchored below said tread surface and receiving said gripping members, at least some of said means terminating at different levels with respect to and progressively approaching from the median portion of said tread surface to the level of the latter, said gripping members being round at their ends adjacent said tread surface and being substantially of equal length.

4. In a tire, anti-skid and like device having a tread surface; gripping members positioned within said tread surface, and elements anchored below said tread surface and progressively increasing in length toward the tread surface from the median portion of the latter, said gripping members being round at their ends adjacent said tread surface, said members being wedged in said elements, respectively.

5. The combination, with a body having an integral grooved rubber tread surface, of members made of sintered hard metal and extending in spaced apart relation to each other, and means retaining said members in the grooves of said surface therebelow, said members extending to different levels and said means progressively increasing in length from the median portion of said tread surface toward the lateral ends thereof.

HAROLD EISNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date r 2,469,666 Raz-Ammann May 10, 1949 2,477,601 Hanson Aug. 2, 1949 2,489,110 Small Nov. 22, 1949 2,511,690 Bergen June 13, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 19,332 Great Britain 1910 256,690 Italy Jan. 12, 1928 

